Fulani Herdsmen Take Over 12 LGAs in Benue State

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, on Friday, lamented that Fulani herdsmen have taken over 12 out of 23 local government areas of of the state.

The governor who was speaking on the law banning open grazing in the state, said the new law would promote the economy and protect lives and property of people, especially in Agatu.

Gov Ortom made the explanation while receiving a delegation of CAN, led by its President, Samson Ayokunle.

The Benue State House of Assembly had on Thursday passed the grazing bill titled, Open grazing prohibition and ranches establishment law, for the prohibition of open grazing and rearing of livestock in the state, the Punch reports.

The governor told his guests that 12 out of the 23 Local Government Areas were under siege by the Fulani herdsmen, adding that it was impossible for farming and grazing to go along.

“What you see in that bill is a decision not just of the governor or the Speaker or members of the Benue State House of Assembly, but the decision of Benue State because the bill was subjected to public hearing and the people were unanimous.

“Benue State has 23 Local Government Areas. But 12 have been under siege by the Fulani herdsmen. Benue State was completely under siege for two years. It is not a crime that God gave us green land and as we are known as the food basket of the nation, we are not going to farm in the air or on the sea, or any other place, it is on the land.

In his remarks, Ayokunle said they were in the state to identify with the people. He said CAN is in support of the new law.

The CAN President said, “I think this is one of the ways to put an end to this type of unnecessary and unwarranted killings that have been going on in this state. And I hope other states will emulate this in bringing an end to the unfortunate killings.”

Meanwhile, Vanguard reports that some Fulani herdsmen with AK47 assault riffles attacked a supermarket in Ndokwa Local Government, Delta State stealing N350,000 and some foodstuff.

According to a source in the community, the herdsmen shot into the air to scare away residents before forcing their way into the store after hitting the store owner with the butt of a gun several times.

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